Won't start unless I pull the fuel pump relay

[mvvette97]

I can't seem to figure this one out. 1998 sunfire with 2.2 engine. The guy said it just died. It has good spark. Try to start it and it smells strong with gas. If I pull the fuel pump relay it will start and run for a short bit if I hold it to the floor. Just as soon as we plug the relay back in it seems to flood out and die. It's like it's getting way too much fuel. I had the scanner on it and it has no codes. With key on all of the sensors are reading fine. What the heck could be the problem? I am stumped. Oh I had thought maybe it had a stuck injector so I pulled the plugs to see if one was wet but they all are black as coal, very rich, so it's unlikely all of them are stuck open. I was wanting to check fuel pressure but can't seem to find the fitting to hook the gauge up to.

[J-Ri]

There's no test port on that. It's easiest to remove the fuel filter and connect your adapters in there. The pump won't develop enough pressure to flood the engine, so before you do that, check the fuel pressure regulator, if it's leaking into the vacuum hose it can cause your problems.

[mvvette97]

Originally Posted by J-Ri

There's no test port on that. It's easiest to remove the fuel filter and connect your adapters in there. The pump won't develop enough pressure to flood the engine, so before you do that, check the fuel pressure regulator, if it's leaking into the vacuum hose it can cause your problems.

I pulled the vacume hose off the regulator and no fuel sprays out so I assume that's good. I don't understand it, getting too much fuel, all sensors read fine, no codes, new plugs, great spark and compression of 150lbs

[J-Ri]

could have a short to power or ground on the fuel injectors, it's sequential, but they share either power o ground between them all. I forget which, but I think they share power.